Al Fayed memorial to Diana and his son

A bronze statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, dancing with Dodi Fayed was unveiled by his father, the Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, at the London store yesterday.

Mr Fayed claimed that the memorial was a more "fitting tribute" to Diana than the official memorial fountain in Hyde Park, which he branded a "sewer".

He also repeated his claims that Diana and Dodi were assassinated. Mr Fayed's monument shows Diana in a low-cut dress with a slit up to the thigh and Dodi in an open shirt.

The couple are dancing in Mediterranean waves beneath the wings of an albatross, symbolising freedom and eternity.

Mr Fayed said the statue would be a fitting tribute to Diana and Dodi, who died in a car crash in Paris eight years ago yesterday.

"This is a statue to stay here forever. Until now nothing has been done to preserve her memory and legacy. She was an amazing woman who brought joy to the whole world.

"As we approach the eighth anniversary of Diana and Dodi's untimely death and in the absence of any further official memorial for these two victims - apart from the much criticised sewer in Hyde Park - I wanted to keep their spirits alive with a further gesture.

"I have named the sculpture Innocent Victims, because for eight years I have fought to prove that my son and Princess Diana were murdered."

The statue was designed by the Harrods artistic design adviser Bill Mitchell, who has worked for the Fayed family for more than 40 years.